RELEASE: Gottheimer Announces New Bipartisan Legislation to Honor Local Veteran Tony Gallopo & Rename Sussex VA Clinic

Above: At Newton's American Legion Post 86, Gottheimer announces new action to honor and support local veterans.

NEWTON, NJ - Today, November 10, 2025, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced new bipartisan legislation backed by the entire New Jersey delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives to rename the Sussex County Veterans Affairs clinic after Anthony 'Tony' Gallopo - a U.S. Navy veteran and local advocate for veterans' health care who was instrumental in getting the clinic opened in 2017.

Tony Gallopo, who sadly passed away in 2020, was Vice Commander of the New Jersey Department of the American Legion and Commander at American Legion Post 86 in Newton.

Gottheimer and Gallopo worked side-by-side to expand health care access for veterans across Sussex and Warren Counties - including at the Sussex VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Newton. Together, they cut through red tape to secure local health care referrals to Bergen New Bridge Medical Center and ImageCare Centers, and helped expand local access to lifesaving, in-person mental health and psychiatric care for veterans. Gottheimer posthumously honored Gallopo as a Fifth District Hometown Hero in 2021.

Gottheimer was joined today by Tony Gallopo's wife Betsy and their daughters Ashley Kopec, Sarah Hill, and Ally Thorpe, as well as former American Legion Post 86 Commander Harry Kaplan, former Commander of the NJ Department of the American Legion Roger Genaro, Vice Commander of the NJ Department of the American Legion David Marciano, American Legion Post 86 Commander Bob Gilesus, and other friends and members of the community.

Watch today's announcement here.

"I've been honored to stand alongside so many incredible leaders, like Tony Gallopo, to ensure that our commitment to our service members doesn't just end when their civilian life begins. Tony's memory reminds us that it is our duty as Americans not only to honor all soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and women, and guardians, but to do everything we can to fight for them when they return. This is especially important right now, as veterans face new challenges: rising costs, health care struggles, and transitions into civilian life," said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). "By renaming this clinic, together with legislation I announced today, we enshrine Tony's legacy and reaffirm our enduring promise: to fight for our veterans the same way he did. In doing so, we not only honor the legacy of Tony Gallopo, but also take action to continue it."

Gottheimer's New Legislation to Honor and Support Veterans:

• Renaming the Sussex VA Clinic in Honor of Tony Gallopo: Gottheimer is introducing new bipartisan legislation to rename the Sussex County VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Newton as the "Anthony J. 'Tony' Gallopo Veterans Affairs Clinic." The bill is co-led by Air Force veteran Rep. Herb Conaway (NJ-3), cosponsored by the entire New Jersey House delegation, and endorsed by the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

• Improving Childcare Access for Veterans and their Families: Gottheimer is introducing bipartisan legislation with Rep. Ashley Hinson (IA-2) to require the U.S. Dept. of Education and the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs to study the childcare services available to veterans and their families, identify gaps, and recommend solutions to address workforce shortages at child development centers and high childcare costs.
  • Each service branch currently has thousands of vacancies at their child development centers - the Dept. of the Army has 7,000 open childcare jobs and the Dept. of the Navy has nearly 4,000 vacancies. Fewer childcare providers drives up the costs of childcare.

• Protecting Veterans' Benefits from Rising Costs: Gottheimer is introducing bipartisan legislation with Rep. Don Bacon (NE-2) to permanently tie veterans' benefits to cost-of-living increases, ensuring that veterans and their families never see their hard-earned benefits impacted by rising costs.

Below: Gottheimer joined today by Tony Gallopo's wife Betsy and their daughters Ashley Kopec, Sarah Hill, and Ally Thorpe, as well as former American Legion Post 86 Commander Harry Kaplan and other friends and members of the community.

Gottheimer's full remarks as prepared for delivery are below:

Good morning. Thank you all for being here as we get the backs of the brave men and women, both living and no longer with us, who have proudly served and protected our nation, both in wartime and in peace.

As General George S. Patton said, "We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of the way." That's how I would describe Tony Gallopo, our service members like Tony and everyone who served here or who is serving - they step forward every day. They are unwavering, and our commitment to them must be as well. That's why there is nothing more important in this job than my responsibility to always have the backs of those who stepped forward to protect us. I've been honored to stand alongside so many incredible leaders, like Tony, to ensure that our commitment to our service members doesn't just end when their civilian life begins. Tony felt the same way. He never stopped serving - never stopped fighting for veterans.

While Tony sadly passed in 2020 from COVID-19, I am so proud to be joined by Tony's family today to mark this very special occasion with this well-deserved honor. I remember like it was yesterday - I sat on the phone with Harry crying.

Tony spent much of his life in Bergen County before moving to Sussex with his wife Betsy, and their daughters, Ashley, Sarah, and Ally. Before Tony served as a Seaman in the United States Navy, he was an active member of the Saddle Brook Fire Department. Tony was Vice Commander of the New Jersey Department of the American Legion, a member of the Legion's Department Executive Committee, and Commander here at Post 86 in Newton. And he loved this post - I spent so much time with him and many others here.

Tony also served as a senior officer with the New Jersey Department of Corrections. After Tony passed, I spoke on the House floor to honor his life and service - recognizing him as one of North Jersey's finest, and as a dear friend who never stopped fighting for his fellow veterans.

Tony was a true hero, but, like so many veterans, he was as humble as could be. Getting to know Tony was one of the great joys and true honors of my career in Congress. I remember when we first met, when I visited Sussex County Community College for a roundtable with local student veterans.

There was no one who knew more about what veterans in Sussex and Warren needed, or who cared more about making sure they got the attention, care, and services they deserved.

For more than five years, Tony and I worked shoulder-to-shoulder to deliver on that promise. We cut through red tape and bureaucracy so that our veterans didn't have to drive hours and wait weeks for care. In 2017, Tony was instrumental in helping secure the long-awaited goal of the first VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic - or CBOC - to serve veterans in Sussex and Warren Counties - right here in Newton - so those who fought for our country could access care close to home. As soon as the clinic was done, Tony said, "Well, what's next? What else are we going to do for veterans?"

From there, Tony and I successfully worked together on getting veteran health care referrals to New Bridge Medical Center and local ImageCare Centers. Tony and I also continued the fight for lifesaving in-person psychiatric care for veterans at the clinic here in Newton. Tony had clear and strong views on mental health and what to do about it.

Every day, I am inspired by veterans like Tony, who always wanted to help more people, give back to his community, and look after other veterans, young and old, who could use a hand. The way Tony fought to commemorate the sacrifice of generations of service members, to expand medical care for veterans, and to support our youth as a leader on our District's Service Academy Nomination Selection Committee, was a profound example of how to lead a life of service. That's why I posthumously named him a Fifth District Hometown Hero.

Tony's memory reminds us that it is our duty as Americans not only to honor all soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and women, and guardians, but to do everything we can to fight for them when they return. This is especially important right now, as veterans face new challenges: rising costs, health care struggles, and transitions into civilian life.

I'm proud to announce new bipartisan legislation to rename the Sussex VA clinic in Newton the "Anthony 'Tony' J. Gallopo Veterans Affairs Clinic." This bill, co-led by Congressman Herb Conaway of New Jersey's Third District, a fellow Air Force Veteran, is endorsed by the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars - and this new effort is supported by our entire New Jersey congressional delegation. By renaming this clinic, we will enshrine Tony's legacy and reaffirm our enduring promise: to fight for our veterans the same way he did.

To Betsey, Ashley, Sarah, and Ally, I am committed to moving this bipartisan legislation forward and getting this done, so that we can properly honor the great man you all loved. He always spoke to me about you, how much he loved you, and how proud he was of your accomplishments. And, I know how much he loved to travel with you all on vacations - and how much he always wanted to make sure his family had a good time.

And to Harry, Roger, and Bob, who knew and worked with Tony for so many years, thank you for joining me in this effort to honor Tony. It's the least we can do.

As we mark Veterans Day this week, I'm also announcing two additional bipartisan pieces of legislation.

First, because there are fewer childcare providers, this is driving childcare costs higher and crushing the pocketbooks of our veterans and their families. Every service branch has thousands of vacancies at their child development centers - the Army has nearly 7,000 open jobs, while the Navy has nearly 4,000 vacancies.

I'm introducing bipartisan legislation with Congresswoman Ashley Hinson to require the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of the VA to study the childcare services available to veterans and their families, identify gaps, evaluate existing barriers, and develop solutions to address these gaps and high costs. After our veterans sacrifice so much to take care of us, we must do more to care for them and their families.

And finally, too many of our veterans come home after protecting our freedom, and they can't afford food for their families. That's unacceptable.

We can't let rising costs force our veterans to struggle financially. That's why I am announcing new legislation to codify increases to veterans' benefits, ensuring they match the cost of living as it rises each year. This will help ensure our veterans won't have to worry about whether rising costs will ever outpace our support for them.

Since Day One, I've been proud to work across the aisle in Congress on improving veterans' benefits and care. My first piece of legislation that passed was a VA amendment, to accelerate the hiring of post-9/11 veterans.

And with the help of those joining here today, we've made countless strides since. Like the VALOR Act, to expand health care available to vets. I helped negotiate and pass the bipartisan PACT Act to support roughly 3.5 million of our brave veterans exposed to burn pits and toxic substances. I led legislation, which was signed into law, to extend the Suicide Prevention and Resilience Program for National Guard members, veterans, and their families.

My "Support Our Veterans Strategy" also includes legislation to help streamline the appeals process for veterans so they can receive the hard-earned benefits they deserve; to help connect our service members and their families with access to nutrition assistance programs including SNAP and WIC, during their transition from military to civilian life; and gives our veterans greater eligibility for housing through the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program.

Please know that I will never stop fighting for you. Whether that's at the VA, a mental health issue, or helping a veteran get a job or support when you come back home, my office door is always open to our veterans. Just call my office at 201-389-1100 or email me at [email protected] - we will get to work to help you, as we've done for hundreds and hundreds of veterans. It is our duty as Americans to honor all those who have served our great country. Our veterans represent the best our nation has to offer - the ones who have sacrificed everything for the freedoms we cherish today. These are not red or blue issues - they are red, white, and blue issues.

And it's why we are all here today - to show our gratitude for our veterans with our deeds, not just our words. In doing so, we not only honor the legacy of Tony Gallopo, but also take action to continue it.

Here in the greatest country in the world, we will always take care of our own. That's how we ensure that our best days will always be ahead of us. God bless you and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

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